Perth embraces Halloween spirit as American tradition grows in popularity

You’ll be in grave trouble if you don’t stock up on lollies this Thursday.

Once derided or ignored as a pointless piece of Americana, Halloween’s dark tentacles now spread around Australia — and WA is no exception.

Devilishly decorated houses, scarily sculpted streets and hauntingly good costumes can be seen everywhere in the lead-up to October 31 as people prepare for fright night.

And trick-or-treaters will be getting in the evil spirit of things, going door to door in the hunt for sweet treats.

Paul Harrison, a consumer behaviour expert from Deakin University’s Business School, told The West Australian that Halloween was now terrifyingly popular.

“Australia is part of a global culture. We’ve all grown up with Halloween depicted in lots of films. So, it makes a lot of sense,” he said.

“We don’t exist as an isolated island away from other cultures now. Most people wouldn’t understand what it is about. It has no meaning for us, and we’re not warding away evil spirits at this time of year.

“People don’t even seem to understand the concept that you’re supposed to look scary. But it’s moved beyond that meaning.”

For those with a sweet tooth, several websites and social media posts point out houses offering tricks or treats.

RAC Insurance was among those sharing recommendations, listing some of the best areas for families to haunt. The spine-tingling trail between the houses of Branksome Gardens in City Beach has proved a favourite.

One local resident said everyone had a fiendishly good time.

“It’s a community event for us. It’s a way of spreading a bit of joy and bringing happiness to the neighbourhood,” she said. “Several houses in our neighbourhood decorate their homes, so we have a bit of a Halloween trail. It takes us a couple of days to set up.”

But it’s not just in Perth where the ghouls and boys are coming out to play.

In Kalgoorlie, Yolande Bryan and her family have decked out their haunted house to attract all comers, stocking up on thousands of lollies in preparation.

“I do a lot of spiritual work and it is kind of ... my duty to do it,” said Mrs Bryan, a spiritual life coach, diviner, intuitive healer and spell caster “It goes with the territory, it’s part and parcel — if I’m going to do psychic readings, I may as well create Halloween for the kids.”

According to Roy Morgan data, one in five Aussies is set to celebrate the spooky holiday, boosting retail sales by $450 million.

The Australian Retailers Association’s chief executive Paul Zahra said the data showed supermarkets had reported a 25 per cent increase in pumpkin sales in the lead-up to Halloween this year.

“It’s now a global phenomenon,” he said.

Dr Harrison agreed retailers had jumped at the opportunity to cast a spell on shoppers, but said it was not necessarily a good thing.

“Sitting underneath all that is the retailer which would take advantage of any occasion. They’re not a community service,” he said.

“As an idea, I see no problem if people don’t see a need to buy into it.

“There are positives in that it brings the community together. It’s an opportunity to dress up. People enjoy trick or treating.”